WHERE TO NOW? (M/M) 18+

Chapter 11

Damien.

The sudden light pressure on my shoulder sends a shiver through me. I look down to see his big brown eyes staring up at me. My heart thumps in my chest. This is new. He has freckles. I hadn't noticed his freckles before; they littered his face in perfect dimension. Had they always been there?

"You didn't have to be so mean" the words came out of him in a jumble. Was he tired? He probably wouldn't lay on me if he wasn't. it makes sense though; he ran into a burning building for a damn animal and barely made it out alive. Idiot.

I saw Daz and Kieran look towards us in the corner of my eye before I looked directly at them. Daz looked away quickly but Kieran kept staring. My eyes locked on him as my jaw clenched. What the hell is his problem.

Suddenly, I could feel the pulse in my neck, beating wildly. I felt hot, my body temperature skyrocketing. It felt like my blood was boiling inside of my skin. What the fuck is going on?

"What do you think Damien?" Daz asked, drawing everyone's attention to me. My body snapped back to normal as I stared at them blankly, having no patience for this conversation as my mind flirted with the idea of why I got so angry at Kieran just now.

"Me and Kieran here," he says, clamping his hand down on his shoulder "have been tinkering with that car you're sitting on." He said, tilting his head towards me. "All it needs now is some gas, unless you wanted to fix up the dent you and Sam made in the roof by jumping on it" he said playfully.

I thought about it for a moment, thinking back to where I'd recently been and I remembered passing a few cars a while back. "There are some cars on route 5, you got a hose?"

"Yes, there's one in the back." He stated, gesturing to the van as Skyler put her hand up. Our eyes turned to her. "How far is route 5?" She asked. "Not far," I said looking around the group. The kids are young. Maybe three, I'm not sure. Walking for two, maybe three hours will definitely be a struggle for them. They'd need to be carried at some point. It'd be difficult, especially if we run into something nasty. We'll need all the hands we can get. "Although, it might be abit too far for some of us."

They followed my eyes until they landed on the children. "Absolutely not," Skylar barked, crossing her arms. "they're not staying behind and we aren't splitting up" her eyes went to Kieran, pleading with him. Daz spoke next. "I agree with Sky, I understand your concern but some of us aren't fighters, not anymore at least and we need someone around to protect the little ones" he said, running a hand over the boy's forehead, moving the hair out of his eyes as he slept nuzzled under his arm.

Why am I even considering this? I don't know these people and I don't want to know them. I want to be out there, on my own. My eyes drifted down to Samuel sleeping peacefully on my shoulder, his chest rising with a steady rhythm. I know I should get him somewhere safe. Based on what I gathered from the state of his cabin and his fear of the most non-threatening and smallest monsters out there, I don't think he has much experience out on the road. He's not cut out for this.

I've been thinking about it and I think I should take him to Jordan, maybe the others too. If they survive that long. It's good there, as good as good can get anyway. They'll take them in, keep them fed and I can go on my way and never have to think about them again.

"Fine. Tomorrow we'll search all these rooms, gather as much as we can here before we go. But for now, get some rest. You'll need it."

***

The next few hours went by in a blur. The air is quiet and teetering on sunrise. The lighter shades of blue start to fill the sky as my breath puffs with condensation from the cold. Daz and the kids are asleep in the back of the van, Keiran asleep in the front and Skyler is sitting next to Samuel, talking quietly about what's happening later since he was asleep during our talk.

My mind keeps wandering back to what the asshole said to me before his friends lit the fire. They wanted the kids, but not only that, they wanted Skyler and Samuel. "my friends like em young" he said "I personally prefer the brunette with the flannel. A beautiful boy, he is." He smirked "I bet he likes it rough. I think he would enjoy my cock as he takes it from behind, with a knife to his throat as the girl watches"

I knew this was nothing new in this world. I knew rape and torture were normal and frequent. Alot of people get what they can from whoever they can, anything to satisfy their cravings. But hearing it, boiled a rage inside me I didn't understand. Maybe it was because Skyler, Bianca and Travis are only children, and maybe it's because I feel like I owe Samuel something. He does think I destroyed his home and maybe a part of me knows that's the truth.

Skylar jumped down from the van, walking up beside me. "You should get some sleep. I'll keep watch" I looked down at her. Taking note of her small frame. "I may not look like much" she says, pulling out a dagger and flipping it around her hand "but I'm good with this."

I smirked. She's full of surprises. I nod before making my way over to the wall to sit by the van when I heard my name being called. I look up to see Samuel staring at me. "Mmm?" I hummed.

"Can you help me get Bleu down, he's awake" an internal sigh flooded my insides but I nodded. I watched as Samuel shifted and pulled him to the back of the van on the edge of the roof. He looked down at me and huffed, trying to backstep. What, is this stupid dog scared of heights now? Fucking hell. I could see Samuel shoving him forward but he was stubborn, fighting his every attempt.

Why does he care, he had no problem getting off the roof at the cabin?

Maybe the front would be easier. "Take him to the other side" I said as I started to walk around. I climbed up onto the hood, watching as Bleu visibly got more relaxed and came towards me. I draped him over my shoulder as I climbed down. Gently placing him on the grass in front of me.

"What's with all the racket?" Kieran says, sliding out of the passenger seat. I guess the pressure of my weight on the hood was too loud for his fragile little ears to take. My eyes roll as I notice the back doors swinging open as well.

My eyes glance towards Bleu again, who had run off, sniffing the ground near a sun scorched bush before cocking his leg up to piss. I averted my attention back to the others who were filing out of the car one by one. I guess it's time to pack up.

I looked up at Samuel who was slowly trying to get off the roof. A wince spread across his face as he placed his foot on the hood. "Need some help?" He's going to fall if someone doesn't help him. He eyed me suspiciously before nodding. I placed my hands on his hips as he gripped my shoulders. I lifted him carefully as I placed him beside me.

"Why does he get princess treatment?" Kieran joked, obviously still bitter about the way he woke up. "Shut up Kieran, he's injured" Skyler cut in. My eyes darted to Samuel and noticed how he wasn't putting pressure on one of his legs. I looked up at his face to see a bright red tinge spread across his face. Was he embarrassed by that? That's nothing to be embarrassed about.

"Alright, we should get moving and find something for his leg. I'll wait here with the kids, you four go search" Daz didn't say anything else as he sat down in the back of the van, his feet grazing the grass below.

Kieran and Skyler began to walk and I looked back at Samuel. I nodded questioningly and he nodded in return before he slowly made his way forward. "If you hear anything, lock yourselves in the back of the van, alright?" Daz nodded with a smile "We'll be okay, get going"

I didn't say that because I care. I said it because they are completely fucked if something happens. But oh well, if they die, it's less drama for me I suppose.

Short chapter I know. It looks so much longer in microsoft word :( but DOUBLE UPDATE! WOOP-WOOP!!